In mere seconds, he had turned back to that arrogant gentleman, the one who did not like to share his thoughts with her.
“I suppose you did not consider that we should discuss this before you joined?”
His gaze narrowed. “Be reasonable, Elizabeth. I cannot consult you on every decision I make.”
She wanted to shake him out of that haughty superiority, to do anything that would bring back the man he had been in the carriage. There must be a way of reaching him.
Perhaps she would have better luck if she asked him a specific question. “Just explain to me why you did it and I will leave you alone.”
“I am tired of having to depend on my uncle telling me what is happening. It would be easier if I attended the meetings myself.”
She had understood his objections to the Council. She had even admired him for his stance. It took a certain type of strength and integrity to resist the type of power it represented. Yet here he was, providing her with a remarkably flimsy reason for him to abandon his good principles.
“Easier? When the Council embodies everything I have been fighting against since I arrived at the Royal Mages? We discussed this. I thought we were inagreement.”
“I know, Elizabeth, but sometimes situations change. Come, let us not quarrel. You are new to all this. You do not yet understand the intricacies of the system. The Council has functioned for generations to keep the true bloods from being at each other’s throats. More than ever, we need to maintain that tradition. It is what holds the Royal Mages together. Twelve members. Twelve powerful mages from powerful families, and the power structure is held in balance.”
Elizabeth ground her teeth in frustration. “Since when were you so eager to be part of that power? Have you forgotten that the Council expelled me from Founder’s Hall? Or do you suddenly agree with them?”
“How can you say such a thing when I abandoned my post, my duty, to protest their actions?”
“I have been asking myself why you did that for some time. It would have been far better if you had not, because now you seem determined to bend over backwards to prove yourself one of them. If you had condescended to ask me my opinion before storming off to brood in Pemberley, I would have discouraged you.Sadly, you did not deign to consult me.”
“Consult you?” he sputtered. “Why would I have written to consult you?”
She stared at him in dismay. So it had not even occurred to him to write to her? And yet he claimed toloveher? Clearly love and respect had nothing to do with each other.
“Because I am yourwife. Because I am your Janus Twin. Because you respect my opinion. Do you need more reasons?”
He stared back. The confusion in his expression told her everything she needed to know. He did not have the slightest idea what she was talking about.
Tears sprung to her eyes. She was too proud to let him see them. She turned and stumbled away, ignoring his hurt expression.
What did love matter if it did not improve their relationship? She was not naïve enough to expect equal footing, but she had believed love would bridge the gap between them. However, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley had not changed one bit from the cold arrogant gentleman she had first met. A few kisses and embraces made no difference at all.
She had deluded herself.It had been a terrible mistake to rejoin the Royal Mages. There was no place for someone like her here. Papa had understood that. He had left the Academy, and she could now understand why.
“I wish you luck, my Lord Council member. Let us just hope your skills on the Council are better than your skills in the domestic sphere.”
She swirled round and left, hardly aware of where she was going, but wanting to get as far away from Darcy as possible. It was a poor shot, but it relieved some of the fury and disappointment that burned through her.
***
DARCY WAS ALREADY LATEfor his first meeting. He told himself he should go, but he could not bring himself to do so when the Council had opened such a deep chasm between him and Elizabeth.
She was right. His skillswereseriously lacking. The words might have wounded him, but he was fair enough to admit that she was right. He did not have the slightest idea how to make this marriage work. He wanted to, but he had no experience of such situations. The Academy had always been the center of his life, and it had been a long time since he had lived anywhere else, among normal, everyday people. He knew nothing of domestic life.
However, he was certain of one thing. He did not want a loveless marriage. He did not want to fail at this. It was the only part of his life that brought him joy, and he would not give that up. He loved Elizabeth. He would not do anything that made her miserable.
If she felt so strongly about it, he would not join the Council. Even though, in actual fact, he had joined the Council because of Elizabeth.
He hurried after her. To his relief, she had not gone far. Maybe he could make things better between them.
“Elizabeth. Please let me explain.”
She stopped and turned around to face him, her eyes bright with emotion.
“I am sorry, Elizabeth. Ididabandon my principles, and you were right to challenge me about it.”
